This is to inform the cycling community that the Quebec Open, which was scheduled for September 7th and 8th 2002 is canceled due to lack of registrations. This competition was being held at the Bromont National Cycling Center. We strongly apologize and hope this race format will be possible next year.

Australian Henk Vogels scored a convincing win at the 6th Great Lakes Cycling Classic on August 24. Vogels and his Mercury teammates took control of the flat 4-corner criterium, though they had a harder time holding the reigns than many pundits - themselves included - expected.

The race, held in conjunction with East Aurora's annual Toyfest, puts the race in front of thousands of festival-goers. This year, they were treated to the best field ever to race through the streets of this metro Buffalo village.

The first 10 laps saw relentless attacks and short-lived breakaways from the starting field of 47 riders, but no one could shake free for good. Team Mercury had four riders in the pack, giving them more horsepower than the pair from 7-Up/NutraFig- including National Pro Criterium Champion Kevin Monahan, making his debut in the stars and stripes jersey, and 2000 GLCC winner John Lieswyn - could handle. Likewise, top amateur squads like Toronto's Ital Pasta Team, and Go-Mart (with elite national champ James Baldesare) the Mercury boys in check through the early going.

With 22 laps to go, the right combination finally went up the road: Vogels and Plamen Stoyanov from Mercury, along with Lieswyn. After holding a scant 20 second gap for 10 laps, the threesome got out of site of the field, and were gone for good. With one lap to go, Vogels shot up the right side of the road, leaving Lieswyn helpless. The Aussie pounded out the last lap and coasted across the line for the $500 win, with Lieswyn beating Stoyanov in the two-up sprint for second.

In other races, Buffalo's Steve Burget (Shikluna) took the category 3-4 race over Brent Bailor (Kwik-Fill) in a breakaway sprint. East Aurora's own Chris Tirone claimed the Master 35+, while another East Auroran, Janel Bedard, took the women's race. Junior Peter Edge claimed the Junior title, with Raymond Leeown winning the 55+ group.